FORUMS & BLOGS

Forums

These are discussions between numerous participants, moderated and organized on just about any topic imaginable - including every possible topic related to orchids. Anybody can participate, but even better, anybody can read the entire discussion. It is these discussions where people share their own experiences in growing, tending, and re-blooming orchids. It is this feature that makes them a great resource for learning how to best repeat their successes in your own orchid growing.

Blogs

Blogs are slightly different in that the writer presents their side of the story, and then allow others to respond. Discussion, much like the forum can take place between respondants, and respondants and the blog writer. Just as forums can provide numerous opinions, suggestions and point of view on how to grow the best possible orchid, blogs perform the same function.

When possible, I will include blogs and forums that allow for RSS in the "Potting Bench" area of the Main Menu, under the sub-menu Forums and Blogs. This saves you from having to visit those web sites, as the latest updates automatically get presented on this web site. Not all forums and blogs permit this, and I listed those resources in this section.

If the brief descriptions of forums and blogs here entices you to visit a particular forum or blog , just click the text just to the right of the "Read More" image (example image on the right) and a pop-up will open displaying the web site of interest. Also on the right-hand side of each listing is a running total of the number of other orchid explorers accessing that same link. Eventually, links will be displayed in order of most popular first.

All items in this section are tagged. This is another advantage of this web site. Click on any tag, and you will be able to review every item (articles, web links, and more) that has the same tag. This makes searching for specific information (for example - Cymbidiums) much easier. Tags appear on the left hand side just underneath the "read more" image.

If you know of a web site that is not included here, but should be, just let me know by sending word to This also includes your own thoughts and opinions about the web sites listed here. Your input can help others. The same e-mail address can be used for concerns and complaints and reporting of any links that no longer function.

Orchids symbolize all that is exotic and bizarre in the natural world, and has done so pretty much since time began …or at least since we became obsessed with their sensuality and awesome eclectic weirdness. The boundary between stark madness and unbridled devotion in the orchid world is rather blurred, which makes life a bit more interesting.

Some background on me

I was born 1974 and I have liked orchids as long as I can remember even though I did not find the time to grow them until my final years in college, but I guess I have been a true enthusiast since 1998 or 1999 sometime. Moving back home to Sweden again after 15 years in Southern California and a short stint in Seattle I had to rebuild my collection from scratch and the passion quickly escalated to obsession, and once you get in this deep I am afraid there is no turning back. The big move back home took place in the summer of 2007. Because of the CITES laws I was able to import my 11-year-old cat without too much trouble, but I could not bring any of my orchids along. I simply had to start collecting all over again – admittedly much to my delight. It took a little adjusting; going from near constant light levels year-round and evenly warm temperatures to our cold dark climate. But it was nothing a little tenacity and good equipment couldn’t solve, and now I could finally grow some of the cooler growing genera I have admired for so long. I rigged up a fine growing room in what used to be called the guest room, but now I simply call it what it is. I have put up several shelves in the large turn of the century window to maximize the use of natural light in addition to the artificial lights. I have also converted a few old terrariums to create special micro climates for more demanding species. Two smaller intermediate vivariums and a huge one one for cool growers. It was actually a teen infatuation that opened my eyes to the orchids. It is almost a little embarrassing to admit, but apparently (according to some teen magazine back then) Morten Harket, the singer from the 80’s pop band A-ha, collected orchids. He was exciting, orchids sounded exciting… and the rest, as they say, is history. A bit more about me… I live in Gothenburg, the second largest city, on the west coast of Sweden. I also spend the summer out by the coast just north of the Gothenburg archipelago. I work as an art director in advertising so form and function comes natural, it also comes in very handy when growing orchids the way I do too. I was also the art director and editor in chief for the Swedish Orchid Society magazine “ORKIDÉER” from 2010 to 2013. A post which lead to many interesting meetings, virtual and not, and new orchid friends from all over the world. But aside from orchids I also enjoy good wine, photography, movies, electronic music and the company of my sweet Maine Coon kitty, Nova.

My favorite orchids

My favorite orchids I have not singled out one specific genus to focus on, like some growers do, but my absolute favorites are orchids of the Pleurothallid Alliance. I simply adore Masdevallia and Lepanthes for example, and I am constantly looking for more exciting species to add to the collection. That is exactly why I built a very ambitious cool vivarium to better accommodate them. My dream finally came true… a South American cloud forest in my inner city apartment in Sweden. However. I have to admit I am also a bit of a slipper-phile and neo-phile (in more ways than one) and a few other “philes” too, even though my Pleurothallid-enthusiast friends find this combination rather perplexing. A Paphiopedilum was the first orchid I ever fell in love with so this elegant genus will always remain close to my heart. And as far as I am concerned, nothing in the world smells nicer than Neofinetia so even though I don’t grow them specifically for the scent, it is a very nice bonus to an already intriguing orchid. But my focus is turning more and more towards intermediate and cool growers from Central and South America. blomma1Hope you enjoy my ramblings about orchids. Thanks for stopping by! //Karma

My name is Karma and I live in Gothenburg on the West Coast of Sweden. I work in advertising and I am a hobby photographer as well as a certified orchidophile. My heart beats primarily for slipper orchids and orchids of the Pleurothallid persuasion, but we don’t have an exclusive relationship... yet.

Editor's note:

It is important to note that the writer of this blog is in Sweden and her process for growing orchids is that of growing orchids in Sweden. Indoor information might be useful and of course the images and descriptions are educational.

International Phalaenopsis Alliance

The IPA was formed in 1990 to promote the appreciation, cultivation and conservation of Phalaenopsis orchids. The IPA's mission is to:

Publish the Phalaenopsis Journal, a quarterly magazine featuring color photography including articles on new lines of breeding, cultural techniques and other subjects of interest to Phalaenopsis growers.

Stage an annual symposium at various locations around the world filled with workshops and lectures from the foremost Phalaenopsis growers and hybridizers.

Bring together growers worldwide to share and to promote our passion for Phalaenopsis orchids.

Host PHALS Digest, an online e-mail discussion forum for our members to communicate about Phalaenopsis and orchid growing.

Maintain a Business Directory of IPA Members.

Sponsor Phalaenopsis related projects such as the revision of the genus, Phalaenopsis: A Monograph by Dr. Eric A. Christenson.

Provide conservancy funds to assist in the support the Phalaenopsis species collection at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

This website is just a small part of the IPA, and in the upcoming months and years we expect to expand it to meet the ever increasing needs of our members.

Welcome to Orchids by Richard

I am happy to share with you photos of Orchid Blooms from my Orchid Plants in my Orchid House at home. I have grown varieties of Orchids, from Dendrobiums, Oncidiums, Phlaenopsis, Cattleyas, Vandas to some Ground Orchids like Cymbidiums and Epidendrums.

My first orchid plant was a miniature white Dendrubium. I was inspired to grow some more after I saw the first bloom of my very first orchid plant here in California, and I am quite successful in growing them, to pass some boring times. Each time it blooms, I take a picture for it will not be the same with the next one. Now I am sharing them with you.

I hope you will enjoy the photographs and a few videos of my little Orchid Collection, and I thank you for visiting my blog.

This site is dedicated to the orchids that grow (mostly)

outside in coastal southern California, USA

It all started with a single Cymbidium, but one orchid followed another, and now my yard is "Orchid Central". I gain great pleasure in the constant discovery of more species, and their hybrids, that can grow outside in my wonderful temperate climate. Winter frost is rare, and at worst it lasts only a few hours. Summers are generally moderate, and high temperatures above 90 deg. F (32 deg. C) are also rare. Summer nights are cool (60-68 deg. F, 15-20 deg. C). I do have a small greenhouse that ranges from 60 deg. F to 85 deg. F (15 deg. C to 30 deg. C), but most of my collection lives outside throughout the year.

On this site, I share photos of my plants, and a bit of what I have learned about how to grow them. See the GROWING AREAS page to visualize my outdoor growing environment, and a few ideas for indoor (non-greenhouse) growing.

Meeting the temperature needs of (mostly) tropical orchids is the biggest challenge, but even equatorial orchids from altitudes above about 3600 ft (1200 m) can tolerate my cool winter nights. My adventure has been in learning how to determine the "overlap" between the conditions that they need and the conditions that I have. See the INDEX OF PLANTS for a listing of all of the plants on this site, as well as information about my growing conditions, and other notes (such as fragrance).

Welcome to Jardim Therapy my blog about orchids and Brazil. Here you will find a few useful references, and some tip & tricks, along with posting of my own personal experience. I absolutely love orchids, and I want to help everyone interested in learning about these unique plants.